Introduction: R/R PTCL has poor outcomes and no uniform salvage standard. Epigenetic agent–containing regimens (Epi-Rx), used as mono- or combination therapy, are increasingly employed.
Objectives/Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy of Epi-Rx against conventional chemotherapy (CC) in R/R PTCL. A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify studies evaluating the efficacy of Epi-Rx (any class; mono/combination) or CC in R/R PTCL. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled proportions.
Results: In the overall cohort, pooled overall response rate (ORR) was similar for Epi-Rx (0.46; 95% CI 0.40–0.52) and CC (0.47; 95% CI 0.41–0.54; p=0.77). In the T follicular helper phenotype (TFH)-PTCL subgroup, the ORR was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.47-0.62) versus 0.58 (95% CI: 0.42-0.73; p=0.73), and in non-TFH-PTCL, it was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.33-0.51) versus 0.36 (95% CI: 0.26-0.46; p=0.38) without a difference. However, the pooled 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was significantly higher in the Epi-Rx group (0.28; 95% CI, 0.24-0.32) than in the CC (0.20; 95% CI, 0.16-0.23, p< 0.01). Although the pooled complete response (CR) rates were similar-0.20 (95 % CI 0.16–0.25) for Epi-Rx and 0.24 (95 % CI 0.19–0.28) for CC (p = 0.26)-the 1‑year overall survival (OS) significantly favored Epi-Rx at 0.57 (95 % CI 0.51–0.62) versus 0.41 (95 % CI 0.32–0.50) for CC (p
